F1 grands prix time changes

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Frank Dalleres

Jules Bianchi crashed at Suzuka last year

FORMULA One’s season opener in Australia is one of five grands prix set for an earlier start in a change prompted by Jules Bianchi’s horror crash at Suzuka last year.

Races in Malaysia, China, Japan and Russia are to be brought forward by an hour in an attempt to avoid the dusky conditions in which Marussia driver Bianchi ploughed into a trackside recovery vehicle.

The Frenchman, 25, suffered life-threatening brain injuries in the incident in October and, though out of a coma, remains in hospital.

Floodlit races in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain are unaffected by the policy change.